Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Cinderbella

Chapter 1

Day break rose up beyond the horizon and I knew that it was time to get up. I hadn't slept a wink last night, it had rained on and off all night, the entire attic was soaked.

The birds sang their songs as I rose to fulfill my daily chores. I swept my way down the small staircase and opened the small door that led into the hallway. The cat stalked out of the room behind me, the cat was pretty much my only partner. She meowed in frustration as she tried to unwillingly shake off the damp coat of water on her.

I laughed quietly and made my way down to the second floor, where my step family was still sleeping. I paid then no attention as I descended down the staircase into the parlor. The fire was already burning in the small brick fireplace, which meant that the ground keeper had already come and gone.

I made my way through the dining hall and into the small cramped kitchen. The pantry held all the necessities to feeding the animals out in the barn. I grabbed a bag of corn and bag of oats and made my way into the cool damp morning air. The squish and crunch of the terrain was settling to me, the feeling that I could run free was back again. But I knew that if I was to run, that the guards would surely catch me and I would thole the consequences.

"Here you go chickens," I murmured to the feathery birds who darted for the corn that I laid on the barn floor. "Silly things, oh I didn't forget about you Nicolas."

I fed the gray speckled horse some oats and poured the rest into the bucket that was next to the murky water that he had to drink. I named the horse after my father's middle name, Nicolas; it was after his death that I had gotten this horse. I stroked the beefy neck tenderly and leaned into the horse. He nuzzled me in approval and resumed eating his food.

"Do you miss him too?" I asked the horse gently, I remained to petting his mane. "I know I do. It seemed like just yesterday when he ran inside to save Renee and never came out. I can't believe he's risk his own life for that witch! I know she wouldn't have done it for him."

Nicolas made a small noise in reply and began to drink the old stinky water. The horse backed away from the bucket and rear ended into the wall, it startled the horse and me. He hit the bucket and it turned at an odd angle and spilled over my dress.

"Agh!" I screamed as the cold water soaked through the thin cloth. I stood up and walked out of the wet stall. I had to change before the mistress woke up; I had to make breakfast before she awoke from her grumpy sleep.

I swiftly ran out of the barn and across the field covered in dew, the house stood tall and gleaming in the morning sun, it made me wonder how long I had actually been in the barn; the door to outside creaked open and closed as I entered the kitchen.

"Isabella!" I heard a strangled cry from the parlor. I groaned as I recognized the voice almost immediately. I walked carefully to the front from, trying my best not to drip on the floor; because I knew that I would have to clean it up.

"Good morning Lady Renee," I said politely and curtsied. I kept my eyes down, trying to memorize the pattern in the dull carpet.

"Where have you been?" Lady Renee asked forcefully, I looked up to meet her gaze and it was more than angry, she was still in her night gown and her hair was very unruly and you could actually see the gray in her red hair. Wrinkles lined her face and sagged up around her eyes. Her frown was normal on her skin, it seems as though she was born with a frown. "I was expecting an at least decent breakfast when I woke up, but now you have gone and played in the pond again."

"I'm sorry Lady Renee." A shiver ran down my cold spine as I felt her glare tighten on me. "I was feeding the animals and I-"

"I don't want any more of you untruthful excuses!" She spilled and held her hands in a thick pose. "You belong out in the barn with the pigs and cows. Anyway, I want a spectacular brunch and then I want you to get the girls all prettied up! We have some company for over the passing weekend and I want this manor spotless! Any spot that I find during their stay there will be a visit from the whip to you back!"

I winced at the thought of that whip hitting my raw back again. I nodded my head and curtsied, and walked swiftly into the kitchen to make some brunch for the evil step family of mine. They thought they had a hard life, they haven't even experienced one thousandths of what they put me through every day.

Cooking had never been a worry to me, it always came naturally. My mother had been an excellent cook, even when she had been pregnant with me, though I never experienced her cooking. But it sounds wonderful from what my father had told me before he died. Even though I cooked wonderfully and presented their food with poise and expertise, they still find me a disappointment, not matter how hard I try I will always be a disappointment.

I have no wonder why my father had married such a wretched woman like her, I think it was because of how pretty she was. But now all I see is a saggy eyed, elderly woman with a stone cold heart. It was a nightmare and I swear the heavens that I will never look down on a servant or a slave.

If I ever do get that far into the honor of owning a servant.

I quickly collected the eggs from the basket and heated up the log oven. While that was heating up I made some bread with homemade jam and honey. Secretly it was Jessica's favorite dish, but in front of her treacherous mother she couldn't eat more than one serving. After I made some sunny-side up eggs and some rather bland oatmeal, which Lady Renee found favorable, I set the dining room and set the food down.

Now came the hard part, waking up Jessica and Lauren. The stairs where wet from a broken window, and with my coordination, it made it almost impossible to get up the marble staircase. I bet the two were already awake, gossiping about me, and using the horrible nickname they insisted on calling me. Cinderbella.

I slowly entered Lauren's quarters, trying my best not you let my soggy dress hit the tile floor. Her room was dark; her loud snores could be heard from over in the corner. The drapes that hung over her huge windows shadowed the room enviously. I drew back the long velvet drapes and watched the sunlight make his way into Lauren's bed.

"You little rat!" She shrieked from under her light covers. Let's just say that madam Lauren is never a morning person. "What are you waking me for at this hour? Get out or I'll call mum!"

"Lauren your mother insists on eating the dining area this morning," I explained, trying to unclench my teeth the slightest. "Maybe you're really a vampire, I'd love to watch you burn in the sunlight."

"Why you little wench!" She screamed and threw back the covers. Her hazy figure swayed and fell slightly back into the bed.

I ignored her rant as I picked up her silken dress and began dressing her tightly. When it came to the corset I think I pulled a little harder then I should have, earning a big gasp from Lauren's red face. Soon I had her hair done and her clothes on.

I walked heavily down the opposite side of the hall as I made my way down to Jessica's room. Her room was much smaller than her mothers and her sisters, but being as dumb as she was, she barely noticed. She was already awake, neatly combing her long musty brown hair.

"Cinderbella!" She cried as she saw me enter from the enchanting mirror. "I heard Lauren scream and thought that I would get up to save time from mothers rant, but when I got up I accidently broke my favorite vase! You have to fix it, now before brunch!"

"Of course your majesty," I said with sarcasm. I saw her pleased grin as she resumed brushing that thick mane of hers. "Is there anything else that I can do for you?"

"Yes, but later," she sighed and began humming an off tune version of England's national anthem. "Oh and Cinderbella can you wash all of my purple dresses? I want to have a purple weekend!"

"Um, Jessica you don't have any purple gowns," I implied and began picking up the broken shards of the vase beside her bed. "You have blue and pink and green, but no purple."

"Well then go down to the gown maker and buy me some purple gowns." She stood up and began dancing around the small room of hers. She was as off balance as I was so she tripped and stumbled throughout the dance.

Soon I got her settled down enough to get her dressed in a violet blue gown and her hair done up with a small jewel incrusted clip that sat neatly in her hair type. I let her wear some of Laurens dark blue shoes that matched, but fortunately the dress as long enough to hide the borrowed slippers.

…..

"My girls," Renee heaved as they sat down around the rectangular table with poise. "I have some big news! Isabella! Tea over here now!"

I rushed into the kitchen and took the kettle off of the fire as it steamed. I collected the sugar, milk; etc; on a silver fancy tray and brought the things swiftly out to the dining hall. As I walked into the room I caught the part of the conversation that implored the guests over the week.

"The lady is a duchess and the man is a duke, so don't mess up; they are important!" Lady Renee said and held her tea cup up to me to pour in. I did so slowly so I could hear more about them, but even as slow as I was going I still managed to spill on my dirty apron. "You clumsy girl! You nearly tipped that on me, watch it next time or it will be a whipping!"

"Sorry Lady Renee," I said weakly and returned to pouring the tea, a bit more carefully now. She groaned inwardly and began speaking once again in her scratchy old lady voice.

"Their sir name is Cullen and one of them is single," she included and I moved on to pour tea in Jessica's cup. "So Lauren I want you to dress to impress! Win his heart; it's almost as good as getting the princes heart. I hear they are related to royals."'

"What about me mother?" Jessica's baby girl voice came into play. She fiddled with her hands and stuffed a muffin in her already full mouth. "Don't you want me to be happy too?"

"Of course sweet," Lady Renee said sweetly, fake sweetness for sure. "But their son is a little high standards for you, so maybe let's settle on something lower. Alright now eat up and go pretty yourselves up."

Jessica's face fell as she began eating the fried eggs and toast, while Lauren just stared at her plate in disgust. I poured her a third a cup of tea and added no sugar, it made her fat.

"What is this?" Lauren said, repulsed. "I can't eat this! It has jelly on it! You touched the jelly! I can't eat something that you've touched!"

She pushed the plate of the side of the old wooden table and it fell to the floor with a crash! Eggs and jelly and toast spread throughout the mess of broken glass and tea that she dropped after the plate. An evil grin spread on her face as I eyed the disaster at hand.

"You foolish girl!" Lady Renee cried from across the table. Her spoon dropped into her bowl full of porridge and sugar. "You have to clean this mansion spotless before the guests arrive! If they see a mess in this house then so help me I will whip you until there is no whip at all!"

I flinched at her words as I bent below to clean up a mess I didn't make. It was always like this, I was always stuck cleaning up the mess I didn't make! It's just how life goes, well my life at the least.

…..

After cleaning every room and floor of this mansion I am exhausted! But I still have to drag through the day like always and clean up after my evil, selfish, and sneaky step family.

"Make yourself scarce!" Lady Renee ordered me after I descended down the staircase into the parlor. I was carrying my trusted mop and bucket, just finishing cleaning up the broken window. "When the guests come I want you to keep your head down and you will not speak unless spoken too and only when I or them give you permission! Are we clear?"

I nodded my weak head and consumed my walk down the hall toward the broom closet. After storing away my mop and emptying the bucket of water I used the broom to sweep up the remaining dust on the kitchens stone workings.

"They're here!" I heard Jessica cry from the front and I did as I was told and made myself clear.

I ran out the back door to the kitchen and followed the path to the deep foliage of trees and bushes. Twilight hung in the air as the birds chirped their last songs before dark settled in. I hid in the bushes, able to see the front and the fancy midnight blue stagecoach that the guests sat in. I peeked through the overgrown rosemary bushes and saw the door open to reveal them.

A man, I his early twenties, with blonde untidy hair with a button up coat and expensive looking pants. He stepped on to the dirt walkway and held his hand out for a lady to take. The lady was probably about 19, with short unusual brown hair and a beautiful purple dress. Lace covered the velvet looking surface and flowers shone in her hair. They walked to the side of the path and held each other in a tight embrace.

Next came a burly man with a barely fitting over coat and shirt with pants and worn down shoes, he had short black hair with a small sideburn that ran down his thick jaw line. He held his hand out for another maiden who took it gracefully and stepped out. She was probably the most beautiful lady that ever did walk the planet, her sleek figure held to her tight red dress perfectly and her waist down golden hair showed her face complexion wonderfully. They walked toward to other couple and stood hand in hand.

Another man stepped out of the massive coach and looked as perfect as the rest. He had a tight face, but a kind smile plastered on his mouth with such diligence. He had short blonde hair and a nice clean button up top and more expensive looking pants. A woman stepped out of the carriage to meet his hand and smiled sweetly once again. She had a heart shaped face and chestnut hair that was pulled into a braid bun. She had a lilac dress on that flowed easily down her hip line and small legs.

Last person out of the carriage held no smile, but not a frown either. His straight face was beyond perfect then the rest, his face and body matched his perfect eyes. They were emerald green and held mystery and selflessness. He had messy copper hair and clothes like the others, and expensive looking pants!

They all graced the coachman goodbye and began walking up the pathway to the mansion that lived the three most wicked people I've ever met. All of them were being fooled under the greatest amount about who Renee Diane Stanley and her two daughters really are. But I must follow orders; it was the number one rule: always follow what Lady Renee says.

This was most certainly going to be an interesting visit.

Sorry it took a long time to update, but this was 7 pages on Word so…

I hope this was a disappointment, it took FOREVER to write!

Oh and if you're wondering what to word thole meant it means to endure or to suffer. Just letting you know it is not a typo!

Thank for reading and thank you to Talietha and KristenStewartFan for reviewing! Please R&R!

XOXO Amcraw123